Rossendale

Rossendale's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in religion, marriage and health.

The population reached nearly 68,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Rossendale increased by 3.6%, from almost 65,700 to 68,000.

The addition of about 2,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Rossendale was home to, on average, 3.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Rossendale

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Rossendale increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This industrial area had a slightly higher average age than the North West and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 2,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 12% of people in Rossendale are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rossendale by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Rossendale

The percentage of Rossendale residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.5% to 4.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The proportion who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.3%, while the percentage of Rossendale residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.7% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Rossendale

The number of people in Rossendale that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 9,100 in 2001 to just over 17,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 25% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Rossendale that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 50,000 in 2001 to just over 43,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 4,600 to just over 4,300 (from 7.0% to 6.4%).

About 2,600 people (2.9%) said they were Muslim, up from about 1,900 in 2001 (3.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Rossendale increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rossendale by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of adults in Rossendale that were married decreased from 52% to 47% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (32%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Rossendale that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 12% to 13%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 50% in 2001 to 45% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 51% to 47%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Rossendale residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 6.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Rossendale residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Rossendale decreased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Rossendale, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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